Literacy

  • Elementary literacy instruction engages students in reading stories and literature along with more texts that provide facts and background knowledge in areas including science and social studies. They read challenging texts and engage in questions that will require them to refer back to what they have read through writing and speaking. There is also an increased emphasis on building a strong vocabulary so that students can read and understand challenging materials. Explicit instruction of foundational reading skills is critical in grades K-2 and begins with phonological awareness, a clear sequence of phonics patterns, providing direct instruction with adequate student practice, and weekly assessments and targeted support.

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  • EL Education

    This curriculum is written by and for teachers, emphasizing active learning and student engagement. Classrooms are structured with highly collaborative activities that allow students to engage in academic conversations and investigations of compelling, real-world content. EL Education aims to contribute to a student's ability to be globally competitive and an active contributor to building a better world.

    • Taking Risks: Students stretch and grow their abilities by engaging with difficult texts and opening up to feedback from others by sharing their thinking. As a result, they surprise themselves with the levels they can achieve.
    • Loving Books: Students get hooked on what they're reading and ask for more. The content is interesting, relevant, and fun. There are no textbooks or anthologies, only original texts.
    • Working Together: The curriculum makes room for students to collaborate in pairs, small groups, or as an entire class. Students with different proficiency levels and abilities have opportunities to work together on the same content and learn from one another.
    • Owning Standards: Students take ownership of their learning and tell you their learning targets for each module. They know their jobs as learners and have plans to meet their goals.
    • Using Expert Vocabulary: Students can use expert-level academic and subject-specific vocabulary in discussions and writing about compelling topics.
    • Citing Evidence: Students refer to specific examples from the texts they're reading to make a strong case for their positions in writing and discussion.
    • Iterating: Students consistently give and receive feedback and revise their work to bring it to a higher standard of excellence.
    • Thinking Critically: Students engage in original research and deep interdisciplinary investigations of rich academic topics. As a result, they develop inquiry, analysis, critical thinking, and craftsmanship habits.
    • Presenting: Students proudly present high-quality learning products to peers, teachers, and others beyond the classroom, knowing that their schoolwork can positively impact the world.

    MODULE [PDF]

     

    LABS & ALL BLOCK [PDF] 

    Reading Foundations Skills Block

    In K-2, one curriculum component is the EL Education Reading Foundations Skills Block. This curriculum includes an approach to teaching the fundamentals of reading called structured phonics. Structured phonics teaches the letters, sounds, phonological awareness skills*, and spelling patterns* of English in a logical and research-based sequence. The Skills Block is closely aligned with the Orton Gillingam sequence of teaching spelling patterns and skills, with some exceptions based on design decisions and alignment with state standards.

    The Reading Foundations Skills Block places students into phases of reading development, developed by Dr. Linnea Ehri, a leading expert in the science of reading. Schools will administer a benchmark assessment at the beginning, middle, and end of the year to place students into a reading phase. Teachers will provide learning opportunities to meet the needs of students based on their phases.

    • Pre-Alphabetic
        • Students do not yet understand how letters and groups of letters that often appear together represent the sounds of spoken language.
        • Students may recognize some letters (e.g., letters in their name) and environmental print (e.g., "Stop" on stop sign).
    • Partial Alphabetic
        • Students partially understand how letters and groups of letters that often appear together represent the sounds of spoken language.
        • Students begin to read and spell CVC* and VC* words but frequently confuse vowels and vowel sounds.
    • Full Alphabetic
        • Students fully understand letters and groups of letters that often appear together and represent the sounds of spoken language.
        • Students can read and spell all regularly spelled, one-syllable words and some words with multiple syllables.
    • Consolidated Alphabetic
      • Students use knowledge of syllable types to read and spell words with multiple syllables.

    SKILLS BLOCK [PDF]

    EL Education Family Communication

    EL Education Family Letters provide an overview of each module and unit. They are available in English and Spanish in digital and print formats.

    The K-2 Skills Block Family Letters provide an overview of reading foundational skills for each grade level.